This is the Eirball – Irish North American and World Sports Archive landing page for World Basketball and related sports such as Netball, Korfball, Ringball and Cestoball. To view Playoff Results and Standings of various World Basketball Leagues and International Competitions just click on the links in red/blue (Purple) below.

Featuered Image

[1] NEW YORK – MAR 10: Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith (2) drives to the basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the Big East Tournament on March 10, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York. By Debby Wong

[5] 8 Nov, 2019 – Beijing, China: Former NBA player James Nunnally shoots during the game between Beijing Shougang Ducks v Shanghai Sharks. By zhangjin_net.Wukesong, Haidian, Beijing, China

Introduction

Basketball is governed Worldwide by the Federation Internationale de Basket (FIBA) which has Continental Associations in Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. FIBA runs World and Continental Championships for both National teams and Clubs.

While FIBA governs the World game, and the Olympic Games runs its’ own Basketball Tournaments for Men and Women every four years, the sport is most developed in the United States of America (USA) where the National Basketball Association is one of four undisputed “Major Leagues”. The NBA also has a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) league and a Development league (“Division 2” league – currently the NBA G-League). More recently it has started the NBA 2K league which is a Computer Games league played on the popular NBA 2K console gaming series.

Below the NBA are numerous Minor (also known as Development) Leagues such as the American Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has a 32-Conference Basketball programme for both Men’s and Women’s College Basketball, culminating in the “March Madness” Playoffs and Final Four National Championships.

Other versions of Basketball played around the World include Netball, invented as a non-contact version of Basketball for Women in England in the late 1800s, and which got its’ name and modern form in Jamaica. Players must also stay within their Zones in Netball . Korfball is a Dutch version of Basketball that is like Netball, however, players must switch between Offence and Defence after two scores by either side, making it a “Total” team game. Ringball is a popular form of Basketball in Southern Africa and Cestoball similarly in Argentina.

For More on Irish Basketball please see the “Basketball” Page at https://eirball.ie/basketball/ and “Area Boards” Page at https://eirball.ie/area-boards/ or use the Navigation menu above.

National Basketball Association

From the National Basketball Association (NBA) to the WNBA (Women’s), NBA D-Leagues (Development Leagues) to NBA 2K (E-Basketball) there is more to the NBA than most people know.

Olympic Games Basketball

Ireland entered the Olympic Games Basketball Tournament in London in 1948, and numerous Olympic Games Qualifying Tournaments since the 1960s in both Men’s and Women’s.

FIBA Europe

FIBA Europe governs the sport of Basketball in Europe, with Ireland entering National Teams and Club teams into European Competitions since the 1960s.

International Netball

Netball was first developed in England in the late 19th Century as a non-contact version of Basketball for Women. It got its’ name in Jamaica, where it became fully codified in something resembling its’ modern form. It is most popular in Commonwealth of Nations countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Jamaica. There is a large league in Northern Ireland and a smaller one in the Dublin Area which includes a team in Cork. There were once leagues in Cork and Limerick. As well as being non-contact, players must stay within their designated zones. There are now Mixed Recreational Leagues in Ireland based on the Fast Fives version of the game.

Korfball (Netherlands)

Korfball is the Dutch variant of Basketball or Netball and has been played in Netherlands and Belgium since the early 20th Century. It has been played in Ireland since around 2009 when the Ireland Korfball International team first entered the IKF European Championships.

While there is no league in Ireland as yet, the International team enters Tournaments in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Netherlands. In keeping with the Dutch ‘Total Football’ Tradition the Attackers and Defenders swap positions after two scores by either team, making an All-Rounders game.

Ringball (South Africa)

Ringball is a version of Basketball played primarily in South Africa and Neighbouring Countries.

Cestoball (Argentina)

Cestoball is a popular version of Basketball in Argentina (South America). Velez Sarsfield are named after Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield, whose Grandfather George Sarsfield left Ireland in the early 1700s. Dalmacio is a hugely important figure in Argentina, having written the country’s civil code in 1856. The Code remained in use until 2015. Velez Sarsfield are a multi-sport club based in the Capital Buenos Aires, and are most famous for their successful Soccer team but also play Cestoball.